Summer Youth Camps teach students how to be directors, detectives and engineers

Camps were held July 10-14 at Penn State Lehigh Valley

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Approximately 160 students from grades one through eight attended the Summer Youth Camps at Penn State Lehigh Valley. The one-week, half-day camps offered classes for students interested in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). These offerings were designed and taught by Penn State Lehigh Valley faculty and the Lehigh Valley Writing Project Fellows.

Campers participated in camps including Sports Statistics, Movie Studio, Cracking the Code, Exploring Art in 3-D, Lego Mindstorms Advanced Robotics, Digital Storybooks, Future Programmers, Splash Lab, and many more. 

student in front of green screen

Students in the Mini-Movie Makers camp work to create their own music video in the Multimedia Innovation Center. 

Credit: Serena Younes

New this year was CSI Lehigh Valley: DNA Evidence. The CSI Lehigh Valley campers had the opportunity to investigate a crime scene, gather DNA samples, use scientific techniques and tools, and find the perpetrator by analyzing the data. 

students in the lab

Students in the CSI Lehigh Valley: DNA Evidence camp test DNA samples.

Credit: Emily Collins

During the week, children’s book author Joe McGee visited campers. He came to campus for a special reading of “Peanut Butter and Brains.”

man standing in front of screen

Children's book author Joe McGee visited the Penn State Lehigh Valley Summer Youth Camps for a reading of his book, "Peanut Butter and Brains."

Credit: Serena Younes

Campers wrapped up their learning experience with presentations to their parents and the campus community. Some presentations included testing mechanical robots, a screening of video creations, and art exhibits.

For more information on the Summer Youth Camps, contact Doug Antonioli, director of the Penn State Lehigh Valley Writing Project, at [email protected]